John 9

“And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in…” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” The line’s distinctive content terms include world, light, long. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind…” The line’s distinctive content terms include clay, anointed, blind. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and…” Naming Sent and Siloam keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.” Naming Some keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool…” Naming Jesus and Siloam keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.” Naming Pharisees keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes…” Naming Pharisees keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the…” Naming Jews keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:” Naming His keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did…” Naming Jews and Christ keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a…” Naming Give keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples.” Naming Moses and Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he…” The line’s distinctive content terms include eyes, know, marvellous. Its relationship to verses 29 and 31 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.” Naming Jesus and Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see…” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.